USWNT to host China, honor Sauerbrunn in pair of friendlies

Julia Kapros-Imagn Images

The United States women’s national team will host China in a pair of friendlies spanning May and June, U.S. Soccer announced on Monday. The two-game series will take place Saturday, May 31 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn., and Tuesday, June 3 at Energizer Park in St. Louis. Turner Sports will broadcast both matches on TBS (May 31) and TNT (June 3) respectively.

The match in St. Louis will feature a pre-match ceremony to honor local favorite Becky Sauerbrunn, who retired from soccer at the end of 2024. Sauerbrunn appeared 219 times for the United States and was a starting center back on World Cup champions in 2015 and 2019. She also won an Olympic gold medal in 2012.

Sauerbrunn was recently part of the Turner Sports broadcast team at the SheBelieves Cup and will be in the role again for the matches against China.

“I love these games because they combine some rich women’s soccer history with the present, with both countries going through transitions in preparation for ’27 World Cup qualifying,” U.S. coach Emma Hayes said in a statement.

The U.S.-China rivalry helped kickstart women’s soccer as a global phenomenon when they met to decide the 1996 Olympic gold medal and the 1999 World Cup. The United States prevailed both times. China has fallen from its perch as a world power on the women’ soccer front but has continued to face the United States regularly. These matches will be their 61st and 62nd all-time.

The U.S. is exiting the SheBelieves Cup, which ended in a loss to Japan, the first since Emma Hayes joined the club full-time last summer. They will host Brazil in a pair of matches in California next month.

“Our process continues and it’s a patient and comprehensive one,” Hayes’ statement continued. “It’s up to our coaching staff to give players opportunities – opportunities they have earned – and it’s up to the players to show us they can perform at the highest levels. We are looking forward to seeing the players show their talents against an excellent team in two fantastic soccer venues.”